Although it was an unearthly hour to get up, it was worth it. At just after4:30am I was sat in the garden staring at the reddened moon as it was eclipsed by the earth’s shadow. Only the longest wavelengths of light refracting around the earth were reaching the moon staining it crimson. This one was a rarity coinciding with a Super Moon (when the moon is closest to the earth).

Super Moon

The next combo is not until 2033.

For me it was the first time in 25 years since I’d seen it way back in February 1990 when in my second year of teaching in Milton Keynes. On that night is was cold and frosty and I caught sight of the red moon between the rooftops.

This time the night was warm and cloudless right up to totality – although it clouded over thereafter.

This evening we came across this amazing creature crawling along the path. Spotted by our neighbour we watched as it crossed the path and climbed the rocks before clambering into a Coelus plant. This gave us a great opportunity to see its colour changing body.